Yahoo Deals Google a Blow in Book-Scan Case

Yahoo, the Web heavy, has refused to turn over information regarding its participation in a project to digitally scan books from some of the nation’s libraries to search rival Google, making it the latest firm to deal Google a blow in its upcoming attempt to defend its own book-scan initiative, the Associated Press reports via the Houston Chronicle online.

Google recently requested information on the Open Content Alliance book-scan project from participants including Microsoft, Yahoo and Amazon.com, according to the AP. The search giant wanted the information to help defend its own controversial book-scan program from a copyright-infringement suit filed against it last year by a number of book publishers and the Authors Guild, among others.

The group charged Google with not obtaining the appropriate permissions to scan some books that it made available to anyone via the Web.

Google requested the information from Amazon, Yahoo and Microsoft because it thinks details of projects similar to its own could help in its defense against the copyright suit. It was, in effect, seeking proof that the proper permissions had been acquired by the Open Content Alliance to scan the books.

In October, Amazon.com refused to hand over any information related to the Open Content Alliance, and Yahoo has followed suit, the AP reports.

“There is simply no need for Google to be peering into the minds and computers of Yahoo employees,” a Yahoo attorney wrote in a letter to Google last week, according to the AP.

Related Links:

• Google Wants Microsoft, Yahoo Data to Defend Book-Scan Initiative

• Google, UC Ink Pact to Digitize Books

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